I saw you ask a question on the thread Beetle but I am putting my response/query here. Sand goggles make sense in a sandstorm.
I'm with you Dennis - it could in theory save the eyeballs from being torn asunder by tiny particles at high velocities while in the midst of a horrible storm. I was just checking to see if there was a specific mechanic someone was relying on. I'm happy to reason it out when we come to it. Which will be easy, by the way, because there's absolutely no chance of a sandstorm of any kind in this particular desert - for realzies*.
Is there a source (besides the Pathfinder main book) that we can look in to see if there is any other suitable gear to purchase before we go to the dig?
Not really, I'm afraid. The APG and the Osirion Companion were the only other source books I made available. But if anyone has any final purchases please do get it out there ASAP, because the parties are now on the road (in their sandstorm free environment) and it's time to cut the shopping off. If you've already mentioned it on the main board though, worry not.
*Not for realzies
Yeah, no worries - besides, Hal's in really good shape.
Karek'll pick up a set of sand goggles as well. It doesn't hurt to be prepared. A mere frivolity, I'm sure. No way they'll come in handy.
Woah! We've dropped into the archives already. That's not healthy.
Jace has asked:
I'd like a ruling on the way my spirit attack works.
pfsrd.com wrote:
Spirit Totem, Lesser (Su): While raging, the barbarian is surrounded by spirit wisps that harass her foes. These spirits make one slam attack each round against a living foe that is adjacent to the barbarian. This slam attack is made using the barbarian’s full base attack bonus, plus the barbarian’s Charisma modifier. The slam deals 1d4 points of negative energy damage, plus the barbarian’s Charisma modifier.
The spirits seem to attack on their own, regardless of whether I attack or not. Would you allow the following scenario:
1. Spirits attack the splicer beast that took the AoO
2. Hurgah moves, drawing his axe as he goes
3. Hurgah attacks the splicer threatening Blinky
Or is that too much cheddar on an already brutal build?
ANSWER (so far)
Jace, you're analysis is dead-on. (1) That's how it reads RAW. (2) It's potentially some serious fromage. Hurgah can attack - move - attack, which is a pretty remarkable ability probably not intended.
I'm going to get a second opinion from my go to guys - one of which was involved in working on that book. I'll get back to you. However, for the short term, I am going to allow it. At a minimum we want to reward you for thinking of it. Also, since the damage is not so high, it won't be too abusive - most of the time if Hurgah were to try this, he'd draw an attack of opportunity.
So enjoy, but just don't get too use to the idea just in case I unfairly gank you later on.
In the meantime, unless you beat me to the punch, I am going to roll for Hurgah to get things moving. I've got a few players in the que who have been waiting on me
So the answer that I got on this is that it's a clever exploit, but hardly game breaking.
So, yeah that move is going to work for Hurgah. I suppose if it were errated, we'd revisit, but I think Hurgah is golden.
Still looking for that party name? I think you should go with "We suck dog turdies and can't take the desert heat".
Too long?
Hmmm...I'm thinking "Let's keep one alive. We can eat it for a month!"
+1 hahahaha
Happy Easter guys!
Hey, just wanted to share some encouragement to you and your crew here, Beetle. Been reading since you opened the game for players, and have enjoyed the ride. The cast is good, the story is fun... good read overall.
Just one tiny request... could you all post at... like... ten times your current pace? That way every time i get a few idle moments, I'd have a few pages of fun to catch up on instead of a few posts? :D
Anyway, carry on. I'll go back to lurking.
Hey, thanks for that Eben!
It means a lot to know someone is actually reading this stuff. (It also motivates me to try to cut down my mammoth sea of typos.)
I'll put a bug in our players about raising the posting level, but you know how it is. Right now the poor guys are a little torn in what they are planning to do, so they are a little stoppered, but don't worry, they'll work it out - a side effect of having such a large stable of players, I think.
But knowing they have the responsibility of providing quality surfing content for Eben the Quiet will help.
So thanks again, and pop by anytime!
--The Beetle
I'll put a bug in our players...
:D nice.
But y'all just move at your pace... Want the game to move at the speed of it's players... not the audience.
I'm going to start making a post (in the in-character thread, of course) every day, even if just to make inane banter or establish amusing in-character actions. If anybody else can do the same, I think we could build up a strong roleplaying connection. Of course, it could also help move the game along.
If anybody is annoyed by Karek's style of speech, I can tone it down, or standardize it, or send out the list of grammer rules I'm trying to stick to. Let me know.
I'm going to start making a post (in the in-character thread, of course) every day, even if just to make inane banter or establish amusing in-character actions. If anybody else can do the same, I think we could build up a strong roleplaying connection. Of course, it could also help move the game along.
This beetle supports daily posts.
If anybody is annoyed by Karek's style of speech, I can tone it down, or standardize it, or send out the list of grammer rules I'm trying to stick to. Let me know.
I like Karek's thick dwarven - it distinguishes him from the other dwarves. Breach has it going on too, but from Bilbo's original posts my sense is it's about 1/10th of Karek's.
So thanks to Mr. Monotony's (Donkor's) power ranger references I've learned a bunch of you have kids.
But where abouts are you all from?
But where abouts are you all from?
Denver. Wife, four kids, one granddaughter, three cats, one dog, and a straitjacket.
Virginia. Wife, three kids.
And you?
Ohio
I raise to 4 kids! Who can beat that? :)
St. Louis. A girlfriend.
Nearish to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
1 wife, 1 kid, 3 dogs, 6 cats, 4 guinea pigs, 3 ferrets.
Only about 4 of the creatures on that list were chosen by me. :)
What about our mysterious Beetle? Where does he have his lair, and are there any tiny beetles running around there?
(And what other forum aliases do you post under, now we are getting to know each other.)
Should we plan the caravan raid here or in the game thread?
I am thinking here. I like (I think it was Donkor's) idea to attck the supplies. I am thinking that we could summon creatures to attck the supply wagons and bot attack the actual people. This way we minimize risk of injury while still accomplishing the goal of sabotage and get an easy in to the dig site.
I think Gandel had a suggestion for why we were out here in the first place, I believe it was Moonpate's research. He and Gandel can be the sages and the rest of us can be muscle for his trip.
What does everyone think?
I think attacking supplies would be find, unless you are all willing to make the leap and kill the caravan members. Donkor will not be making that suggestion in character however.
Gandel's suggestion seems to be fine, but we are a very odd assortment of muscle. I would probably work better as another sage, if we were to go that route. A priest, some osirionology, and have plundered a previous pyramid.
It should come as no surprise that Hurgah has no problem whatsoever with any amount of violence the plan might entail. He has, however, no desire to be part of the planning. As such, I'll leave it to the rest of you to figure out what to do and just act as directed.
Virginia. Wife, three kids.
And you?
Toronto, Canada - Go Raptors!
No kids.
--Beetle
P.S. My sense is there is some kind of plan coming together. I'll hold back before posting further so that people can discuss, because planning can be fun and that should be a component of what this particular game is about. But if the boards go all quiet, I'll fail my save and give way to my irresistible need to keep things moving.
Anyways, it sounds like we've got two separate but possibly related plans coming together: one to deal with the camel transport caravan; and one to deal with Khymrasa at the dig site. Cool beans!
I like Moonpate's idea of summoning the elementals to attack the caravan and destroy the cargo this way no one gets hurt. Hal a LG character does not want to hurt anyone but he does want to take the most direct approach to getting in the caravan. This would require very little deception on his part which is what makes him happy. He is escorting sages out to the desrt after all. I took one Summon Monster IV I hope someone else took a Summoning spell as well for the day.
Only problem is that we will need to be close as we eed to "slay" the elementals not have them just disappear cause the spell expired.
Do we split the group in two? One group traveling as the sage Moonpate, with his bodyguard Hurgah, and his assistant Gandal. The second group could it could be Jason and Donkor who are heading for "another" site (the one mentioned by Gandel), not this one. He hired Thalia as his guide and a bunch of dwarves as his bodyguards. This group will have "luckily" run across the caravan at the right time.
This way we are not too conspicuous and we will have two points of access.
Thoughts?
He of the large dome likes this idea and has a Summon IV to add to the mayhem. I not so sure though, that we need to "rescue" the caravan. We certainly can if the group feels that doing so will help. Otherwise, the summoned elementals can cause damage and simply disappear, which would be in line with their nature in Osirion.
So, out of character, it seems like the plan to ambush the caravan with elementals would come up with a couple of basic flaws. First, our chief conjurer is not the stealthiest of people, and he would have to be close by. Second, I rather feel like I would get suspicious, even if I know nothing about magic, if the creatures that are attacking my caravan just disappeared after about 36 seconds.
Also another meta-note: I see that Moonpate can speak all of the elemental languages, but simply summoning them without directions may result in them attacking innocent bystanders, right?
I like the idea of the split group. I feel much better knowing we have a "goal". As long as the people who have to lie are good at doing it, we might be able to get by. The rest of us should just follow orders, and take opportunities at sabotage.
So, the plan? Sabotage the equipment, then beat the caravan to the dig site? If the aforementioned kinks can be worked out, that's what I'm favoring. I'll go ahead and put it in the thread.
Also another meta-note: I see that Moonpate can speak all of the elemental languages, but simply summoning them without directions may result in them attacking innocent bystanders, right?
That's exactly right (as usual). The default is to attack foes, and summoned monsters do so even with a language barrier. But if you have the advantage of communication, one of the great things about selecting elementals, you can instead have your conjured creatures follow specific instructions.
What this entails, given the current plan, is the casters will need to conjure their elementals next to them, give instructions and then send the elementals to attack. So the duration of the attack is potentially even shorter, but if you summon a large enough swarm, perhaps it doesn't need to be very long at all.
Am I right the current idea is for Moon and Hal to each use a summon monster III to conjure 1d3 small elementals? Specifically, 1d3 air and 1d3 fire? And then, if I follow right, Moon is going to add a further summon monster IV to add a medium fire elemental?
They will do so from how far away? (100 feet?) While the rest of the party shall keep back out of the way and hidden (say 500 feet?) Don't hesitate to correct me. These distances are a bit fuzzy on account that your target is constantly moving away from you - heading east.
Another fun fact: With Summon Monster IV, our summoners can get 1d4+1 of the Summon Monster II creatures, which include small elementals.
Another fun fact: With Summon Monster IV, our summoners can get 1d4+1 of the Summon Monster II creatures, which include small elementals.
A spell which both Moon and Hal currently have prepared. Am I hearing castings of both for 1d3 + 1d4+1 small air and 1d3 + 1d4+1 small fire elementals? Or just go with the summon monster IV's for 1d4+1 of each?
Plus, while less spectacular, there's also Gandel and Thalia who have summoning capacity. There's a real potential for an elemental flash mob.
I will have to check the range later but I don't believe it is very far.
So we don't want to join with this caravan? I thought it would be an easy way in.
Now that I think about it, we can really simplify things if all we want to do is join the caravan and not sabotage it. We can just simply ask to join as fellow travelers to the dig site, with our own reasons for being there. It is only prudent that separate groups would travel together through such a dangerous waste. The Pate is going as a "researcher" with his trusted bodyguard and assistant. The rest can go as "guards for hire", or expert "architect/diggers", or even adventurers following rumors of potential in the eastern desert. There would be no need to cause mayhem with summoned critters.
However, if we do want to cause some mayhem (and I am not opposed to that), then it would seem to me that the best way to go about it would be to get ahead of the caravan, pick our spot where we can do the summoning and instructing of elementals just out of sight, and then let them do their thing; and onwards we go, having disrupted what may be an important caravan for the Examplar. If we go with the mayhem plan, I would use my Summon IV to bring in 1d4+1 small fire elementals (and with Summoner's Charm ability, the duration would be 3 extra rounds). That, coupled with Hal's summoned elementals should be enough to cause the appropriate damage. If the rolls suck, I can also chuck out a Summon III or Thalia and Gandel can join in the fun.
If we go with the mayhem plan, I would use my Summon IV to bring in 1d4+1 small fire elementals (and with Summoner's Charm ability, the duration would be 3 extra rounds). That, coupled with Hal's summoned elementals should be enough to cause the appropriate damage. If the rolls suck, I can also chuck out a Summon III or Thalia and Gandel can join in the fun.
Ah! Summoner's charm! Nice.
That reminds me - I think you and I neglected to give the Scorpion King his bonuses for Augment Summoning. I'll have to remember Moonpate the Potentate is no ordinary conjurer - he's way up there.
That's a helpful formulation. Chime in guys! I know some of you have gone back and forth a bit, so maybe remind us all where you wound up.
Donkor's vote: 3,2,1. He prefers three because of Pharasma's divination of "Follow smoke, leads to hole". Hal then saw the clear image of a campfire, which is how we first became aware of these people.
Thus, taking her instructions perhaps too literally, he vehemently does not wish to precede them to the dig site. He would prefer to trail them, or join them and sabotage from within if possible. Poisoning food, or destroying equipment of something. He will go along with the majority though. He also continues to make it clear, without blatantly stating it, that simply attacking these people seems like the most efficient option.
Despite Hurgah's appetite for destruction, OOC I vote for option 3, or perhaps just to follow them from a distance (based on Donkor's interpretation of the vision).
I vote for option 3 as well. Summoning creatures as a ruse sounds like it might work, but we really don't know the intentions of the caravan at this point. It seems like an extreme measure now.
My preference order is 1, 3, 2. I like 1 because we sabotage and infiltrate at the same time (in theory). I think 3 is better than 2 though because I would not want to leave these people stranded in the desert. Looks like 3 is the winner though. :)
Yes it does, though it is close. Perhaps I could get a bit more detail on how #3 works. Here's what I think I have so far, so please correct me as I know this has been a bit of an organic process:
The party will ride up to the caravan from behind and then attempt to join-up, possibly with a Diplomacy check and a couple Aid Another's. The basic "story" is that you are yourselves headed to the dig site and believe it is safer to travel in numbers in the desert. From there you will plant the seeds of your eventual cover stories (i.e. I'm an Osiriontologist, I'm bodyguard, I'm a labourer ect.)
I'm interested in your thoughts on this regardless of how you voted.
The party will ride up to the caravan from behind and then attempt to join-up, possibly with a Diplomacy check and a couple Aid Another's. The basic "story" is that you are yourselves headed to the dig site and believe it is safer to travel in numbers in the desert. From there you will plant the seeds of your eventual cover stories (i.e. I'm an Osiriontologist, I'm bodyguard, I'm a labourer ect.)
I'm interested in your thoughts on this regardless of how you voted.
Looks like you got it right. Let's move to overtake.
It looks like our cover stories are as follows:
Moonpate: Scholar
Hurgah: Moonpate's Bodyguard
Gandel: Moonpate's Assistant
Donkor: Scholar
Jason: Handsome, eccentric oddball
Hal: Priest?
Karek: Bodyguard
Breach: Equipment Expert
Thalia: Guide
You are all immediately issued matching fake passports.
I would imagine you guys think I fell off the face of the planet, huh? So sorry I was unable to post tht htey would be having us away for a lot longer than I expected, but they cut our internet access before I could. It looks like you guys have been trucking along and I just wanted to post and let you guys know I wasn't the usual flake, lol. I don't think I will be able to catch up as Breach since he has taken on a life of his own, but if you guys are need of another at some point I do plan continuing to follow this thread. I have a lot of reading to do! Talk soon, Bilbo.-